Are you holding on to obsolete things?

We live in a fast paced world where things change faster than we can perceive. Technology ushers in one innovation after another – yet each becomes more obsolete within the shortest possible time while a newer, better one takes its place in no time. The latest computer for an instance, stays latest only until a newer model comes along usually within months or less than a year. They say the value of a computer or other techno gadgets drop fast soon after you purchase them. But the point is as technology becomes newer, smarter and innovative, we too must evaluate what within us is obsolete and out of date.

Just as technology advances and information becomes changing fast, we too can transform ourselves in keeping with changing times. It is easy to cling to old notions and old fashioned thinking. Old fashioned thinking is not to be confused with old fashioned values which are the vital core of society. We must ideally retain strong values that build societies, encourage and foster goodwill. But what can be damaging is to retain older, obsolete ways of thinking that can hold us back from going forward.

Innovative technology

Today’s innovative technology creates and sustains opportunities that must be picked up and made use of. There are new avenues of information, usually at the click of a button. For an instance, the medical profession and patients alike have benefitted from real time information on internet. There are occasions when operations have been performed with expert opinion from medical professionals via on line telemedicine solutions – an area of relevance for countries where natural disasters or poverty has denied the people the opportunity to seek professional medical attention.

Yesterday’s thinking would have sufficed for yesterday but unfortunately, today is another day, another era. It is amazing sometimes to see younger generations still holding on to ancient ways of thinking. There are young Sri Lankans who still believe they must overburden an already loaded state service, when seeking a job. They are still within the mind set practiced over a hundred years ago that the best job was a job with the government. That is not so today. There are many opportunities for entrepreneurship - many opportunities for young people to practice newer, more challenging professions but they do not seem to be interested in such pursuits.

New opportunities

Technology has opened doors unseen before to the villages. At the click of a button, any one whether located in a village or the town, depending upon access to internet, can access cyberspace – source new opportunities, update themselves, join groups or generally make use of the wealth of information available on internet. This in itself can transform one’s way of thinking – updating yourself is the best one can do to improve knowledge, systems and thinking.

There are those among us who hold on to old ways of thinking; such thoughts can prevent us from progress – whether personal or professional. For an example, the traditional rivalry between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law represent olden times. Today’s mothers-in-law usually belong to a generation that went to work and engaged in a career. They do not have the time or the desire to find petty faults with the women their sons chose. They have their own lives to lead and usually do not wish to interfere with the lives of their grown up children. They believe in giving their children the space needed and usually will only interfere when requested to.

Friendship and respect

Obsolete thinking is not in keeping with the changing times of today. We benefit from newer, better, more flexible ways of thinking. We discover ourselves, find out newer things we could do, and generally benefit from innovative thinking. It enables us to do things we could not do before; it empowers us to seek out newer challenges, transform ourselves into newer, better people.

Giving up obsolete thinking is not becoming someone else we are not. Neither is it merely adopting a set of rules or ways of thinking that seems very trendy. But rather it is adapting ourselves in keeping with new ways of thinking. Today’s children for an instance are very smart and in tune with the changing world. They are also very intelligent and can usually relate to the wonders of technology. You need to be able to communicate with them in order to win their friendship and respect. You must know their language - be able to approach them at the same level.

Let’s learn lessons even from the young - let us change our ways of thinking. Today.